Quick Lit: Four Reviews

Hot Air by Marcy Dermansky 

A joyfully unhinged story of money, marriage, sex, and revenge unspools when a billionaire crashes his hot air balloon into the middle of a post-pandemic first date.  The publisher's description, especially the "joyfully unhinged" part, says it all. These characters exhibit the most outrageous behavior, and it makes for wildly compelling reading. Dermansky writes in short, easy to read sentences that kept me quickly turning the pages even at times when I wanted to look away. This definitely isn't a book for everyone, but I loved it and plan to read more by this author.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put by Annie B. Jones 

I've been a fan of both Annie and From the Front Porch podcast for years. I preordered a copy of her debut essay collection from The Bookshelf and they included the free audiobook code from libro.fm. It was a pleasure getting to know Annie better and I enjoyed her reflections of living in a small town, owning an independent bookstore, and her faith journey. I highly recommend listening to this one! 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 

I have a soft spot for older protagonists and epistolary novels, and found myself immediately drawn to seventy-something Sybil Van Antwerp. She is a fascinating character and I loved learning about her life through the letters she wrote and received over the years... including several to famous authors.  I found myself slowing down to savor this novel and wish it had been even longer. Easily my favorite book of the year so far!! 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Annotated Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

edited by James L.W. West III, with an introduction by Amor Towles

Like many other Americans, I first read The Great Gatsby in a high school English class. Since then I've read it a couple more times, most recently in 2015. Gatsby turns 100 this year and The Library of America has released a gorgeous new annotated edition to commemorate the occasion. Earlier this month I read it once again as part of a Modern Mrs. Darcy community read. The annotations enriched my reading experience... and I still love The Great Gatsby!

 

 

Early April Reviews

Hello, friends. It's Sunday again and, somehow, almost the middle of April! I've read several good books already this month, including two this week. So before I get too far behind, here's a quick review round-up.

A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan

Narrative nonfiction at is finest... this book is about the KKK's rise to power in the 1920s, the evil mastermind behind it, and the woman who ultimately brought about his, and eventually the Klan's, downfall. I was completely unaware of the history presented here, but the northern KKK's reach into the highest levels of local and state governments, particularly in Indiana, was staggering. In addition, its national aspirations and plans were downright scary. And most importantly, I found far too many chilling parallels to the current state of affairs in the US.

Egan's research is meticulous, and his skillful pacing and storytelling kept me turning the pages. Part of the book even reads like a legal thriller. I was positively riveted!  

A Fever in the Heartland  was a read/listen combination for me. Egan narrated the book himself and did an excellent job.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kate & Frida by Kim Fay

Fay's previous novel, Love & Saffron, was a 5-star favorite back in 2022, so I was thrilled to win a kindle edition of her new novel from goodreads.  In Kate & Frida  I found another delightful epistolary novel, this time set in the early 1990s with letters between two twenty-somethings finding their way in the world. 

Frida, an aspiring war journalist in Paris, writes to a Seattle bookstore and her request is answered by Kate, a bookseller longing to become a writer. The two strike up a correspondence which develops into a true friendship. Along the way they discuss life, books, food, and much more. There are plenty of 90s pop culture references, too. I may purchase a hardcover copy to put on my shelf next to Love & Saffron.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

I've been thinking about an April reread of this classic for a few years, and jumped at the chance to join in a buddy read with some MMD friends. The Enchanted April, first published in 1922, tells the story of four very different English women, previously unknown to each other and each dissatisfied with her day-to-day life, who answer an ad to rent a castle in Italy for the month of April. The combination of the Italian sunshine, sea air, and wisteria cause their spirits to rise and unexpected changes begin to occur. After all these years, The Enchanted April  is still a favorite!

This was another read/listen combination and I very much enjoyed Eleanor Bron's narration.  I'm planning to watch the 1991 movie again this week, too.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

How is your April reading going? What have you been reading lately?

 

The Sunday Salon: Perfect Beach Weather!

Happy Sunday, friends. It's been another good week filled with family and friends, books, and beaches. We went to a St. Patrick's Day happy hour in our old neighborhood (just a few miles down the road), enjoyed an overnight visit from my sister and brother-in-law, read on the beach for an entire afternoon, and I finally completed my first 5-star read of the year! 

Recent reading//

How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key

narrated by the author

I listened to the April selection of the MMD book club and, unfortunately, found it was not for me. This is a memoir about a marriage in crisis following the author's discovery of his wife's infidelity. It's a sad story that is, at times, surprisingly funny. It's also filled with insight, both personal and spiritual. A chapter written and narrated by Key's wife, Lauren, provides her perspective on the situation and, in my opinion, was key to the memoir's overall success. The marriage ultimately survives and, while the book is well done, it's just not a book I wanted to read. However, I do look forward to the discussion.

You Are Here by David Nicholls

This was both my first novel by David Nicholls and my first 5-star read of the year! It was a read/listen combination which I flew through in just 24 hours... starting the audio during a sleepless night and continuing with the ebook the following day.

It begins as one woman assembles a group of friends for a weekend hike through the English countryside. An odd set of circumstances, compounded by bad weather, leads to an unlikely pairing of two previous strangers and an epic ten-day hike from sea to sea. I really enjoyed getting to know Michael and Marnie, and rooted for their budding relationship. I loved the descriptions of their hike, the scenery, and various stops along the way. I'm already looking forward to my next David Nicholl's novel and dream about planning my own English hiking adventure!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current reading// 

Kate & Frida by Kim Fay

I won another goodreads giveaway!! This is the second in as many months and this time it was a kindle edition. Kim Fay's  Love & Saffron  was a  2022 favorite, and so far her follow-up is just as good.

In the kitchen//

This was not a week for trying new recipes, but I did make an old favorite, Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil, from Damn Delicious. I probably shared this a few years ago, but Publix had BOGO frozen shrimp last week and this week it's BOGO kielbasa, so making this recipe again was a no-brainer! It's one of my husband's favorites.

The week ahead//

Nothing especially exciting is on the agenda this week. The main event is a routine colonoscopy, which I'm not looking to but has to be done. I hope you have something more pleasant planned!

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

A Pre-Election Reading Update

Hello, friends. After a week of beautiful fall weather, walks with an audiobook, and a weekend filled with family and dogs, I'm here with an unusual Monday update. 

Recent reading//

Be Ready When the Luck Happens

by Ina Garten, narrated by the author

After posting "My Year in Nonfiction" for Nonfiction November last week, I realized that my nonfiction reading has been less than satisfying this year. In an effort to get back on tract, I picked up this highly anticipated foodie memoir and was not disappointed.  

I own several of Ina's cookbooks, attended one of her zoom events during the pandemic (remember when they were a novelty?) and regularly prepare many of her recipes. I haven't watched her television shows more than once or twice, but still consider myself a fan.

This memoir turned out to be even better than expected. It covered her difficult childhood, her relationship with Jeffrey, and how she came to own and operate Barefoot Contessa. In addition, Ina talked about her business philosophy, the many real estate transactions and renovations, and the evolution of her television show... plus there was some enjoyable name-dropping when the topic turned to show guests, friends, and her famous dinner parties.

I really enjoyed Ina's narration and am glad I listened, but there are some photos and recipes included in the print book that are worth checking out, too! ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

by Deeshaw Philyaw, narrated by Janina Edwards

This is the November selection over at MMD book club. I listened to this short story collection back in 2021 and wasn't planning a reread, but discovered that the audio is still available via hoopla. I always get more out of the author talks when the book is fresh in my mind and, at 4 hours long, it wasn't a huge time commitment. The stories all feature Black women and deal with sexuality, church, families, and relationships. As always, I enjoyed some more than others with "How to Make Love to a Physicist" being my favorite. ⭐⭐⭐💫

Current reading//

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

This slim travel memoir is the follow-up to Hanff's beloved 84, Charing Cross Road, a book I've read or listened to multiple times over the years.

What I Ate in One Year (and related thoughts)

by Stanley Tucci, narrated by the author

I just started listening to this memoir yesterday and love it already. It'll be just what I need to take my mind off the election and its aftermath.

The week ahead//

As we are all aware, tomorrow is Election Day... and it can't come soon enough for me. We voted by mail (seemingly weeks ago), and our ballots have been received and accepted. It's certain there will be no winner announced Tuesday night, yet I am just as certain someone will choose to declare victory. Beyond that, I am afraid we'll be dealing with a lot of accusations and misinformation. My anxiety level is already through the roof.

Tomorrow we will have the distraction of an overnight trip to attend the funeral of a high school friend's mother. All bets are off after that...

How was your week? What have you been reading?

Our canine guests: my sister-in-law's Bernerdoodle Ophelia and our grandpup Winnie the Whippet.

 

Back in Connecticut!

Hello, friends... it's good to chat with you again. We arrived in CT a few days ago, ahead of the Memorial Day weekend travel rush. We drove as far as Georgia the first day, opting for a quick overnight in Savannah by the riverfront. (photo above)  From there we went to Chapel Hill, NC for a few days. We got to see my cousin, visit an old friend, shop at Wegmans, and finally had an opportunity to tour the Duke Gardens. Our final stop on the trip was in Harrisburg, PA.

Now we're back and unpacked, and overdue landscaping chores are the top priority. Slowly, but surely...

Recent Reading//

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy

narrated by Christine Rendel

Over the course of a single week, a woman who is ready to die discovers an unexpected reason to live.

This novel was released to very little fanfare last month, but I happened to notice three words from Ann Patchett on the cover - "I loved it." And that was all I needed. The short novel (5 hours on audio) is both life-affirming and delightful, and I loved it, too. I may even purchase a hard copy to keep on my shelf. The audio is available for immediate download via hoopla.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current reading//

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

This is a longterm nonfiction project. I've read over 150 pages now and look forward to my 30 minutes with the book each morning . Goodwin is both an excellent writer and storyteller.

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

I just started this book yesterday and was surprised to find one of the storylines takes place in Lexington, KY in the 1850s. I've spent time there with Team of Rivals, too! This is a read/listen combination and it's off to a strong start. At just over 400 pages, it's going to take some time...

The week ahead//

Even though we've just gotten comfortable here, it's back on the road again this week! We'll head up to central NY to spend a few days with my parents, then down to NYC for a long weekend where we'll get a chance to see both daughters and their partners. Should be a lot of fun!

How was your week? What have you been reading lately?

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

 

A Super Bowl Sunday Salon: February 11, 2024

Hello friends! It's a sunny Super Bowl Sunday on Sanibel and, while I don't really care about the game this year, it's still fun to watch the commercials and halftime show. 

It's good to check in here again after a busy couple of weeks. We got to spend time with our daughter/her fiancé and celebrate her birthday over their long weekend visit. The painters finally finished the outside work, then promptly disappeared before moving on to interior repairs. But I'm told we're still on "the list." The rest of the landscape clean-up is done and we're expecting a load of gravel tomorrow. Our pavers have been ordered, but delivery is ten weeks out. Baby steps... 

Recent reading//

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray 

Collaborating on a novel must be incredibly difficult and, for me, the result was a great story with less than memorable writing. I really loved learning about Belle Greene, J.P. Morgan's personal librarian, and the time period. Now I plan to dig a little deeper into Belle's life and accomplishments. The Morgan Library and Museum in NYC has an upcoming exhibition about her life and legacy opening in late October and I'm already planning my visit.

Marie Benedict spoke at our library last week and I was lucky enough to "win" a ticket in the lottery. However a multi-vehicle crash blocked traffic which resulted in hours of gridlock on much of the island, including my routes to the library. I was unable to get there. My only consolation is that both authors will join a zoom chat with MMD book club later this month! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Body in Question

by Jill Ciment, narrated by Hillary Huber

So far this year I've stuck with planned reading, but this book was entirely an impulse pick. Ann Patchett talked about it during her most recent Friday "New to You" instagram video segment. I was intrigued, found the audiobook (read by a favorite narrator) available on Libby, and then listened into the wee hours of the night when I should have been sleeping!

This short novel (under 5 1/2 hours) is about a high-profile murder trial where a teenaged girl is accused of killing her toddler brother. Two jurors, sequestered for the entirety of the trial, begin a covert affair. After the trial, juror C2 returns home to her elderly husband and the affair leads to "profoundly personal and moral consequences." Dark, tense, and tightly written, I could not stop listening!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current reading//

Belle Greene by Alexandra Lapierre, translated by Tina Kover 

I'm almost 30% into this 500+ page novel, another work of historical fiction about Belle Greene. It's the February "flight pick" for MMD and so interesting to compare/contrast with The Personal Librarian in terms of both substance and style. At this point I think it is the superior novel. Both the ebook and audiobook are available on hoopla.

In the kitchen//

I'm back to trying at least one new recipe each week. My latest offering came from a recent Publix ad - Key Lime-Peanut Grilled Chicken Skewers  Except for cutting back on the pepper, I followed the recipe exactly as written. This is a "flavor profile" we all like, so I had a feeling it would be a hit. This will stay in our grilling season dinner rotation!

The week ahead//

Besides the delivery and spreading of new gravel, we're also looking forward to a Taco Tuesday party at a neighbor's, an afternoon with old college friends, and my sister and BIL's arrival next weekend. I'm hoping for plenty of reading time and a few sunsets at the beach, too!

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.

Rereading Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Interpreter of Maladies

by Jhumpa Lahiri, narrated by Matilda Novak

Highbridge Audio, 2007

6 hours and 15 minutes

I tend not to be a big rereader, but this is my second (of three) rereads just this summer. A podcast episode prompted this one. I was listening to From the Front Porch's last installment of their Backlist Book Club, now rebranded Bookmarked with Annie & Hunter. Interpreter of Maladies was the title they discussed... and I was surprised to find a few of the stories had stayed with me all these years. That made me curious about the others.

Interpreter of Maladies, originally published in 1999, won the Pulitzer Prize 2000. I listened to it in 2009. At the time, I was a new to short stories, but a frequent participant in the old "Short Story Monday" weekly blogging linkup where I primarily posted about classic short stories. This was likely one of the first contemporary collections I'd ever read. 

The stories that stayed with me were "A Temporary Matter,"  "Interpreter of Maladies," and "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine." 

I've gone on to read Lahiri's other story collection, Unaccustomed Earth, and a couple of her novels. Rereading an early work, even a Pulitzer Prize winning early work, emphasized just how much Lahiri has grown as a writer over the years. Looking over her backlist, I never read The Lowland  novel. Maybe I'll pick it up while waiting for her new collection, Roman Stories, coming in October. 

Have you read Jhumpa Lahiri?

Thoughts on TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett

 

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Harper, 2023

320 pages

audiobook narrated by Meryl Streep
HarperAudio

11 hours and 22 minutes

My one-sentence review:

This may just be the perfect novel... I loved every sentence!

A bit more:

Tom Lake, my most anticipated release of 2023, was every bit as good as I'd hoped. It's billed as Patchett's pandemic novel, though the pandemic isn't central to the story. Instead it serves as a mechanism to bring adult children home to their family's Michigan cherry orchard for an extended period of time. Telling stories becomes their preferred form of entertainment... in particular, one about a long ago summer theater run when their mother, a budding actress, and a soon-to-be-hugely-famous movie star are involved in a brief, but significant relationship.

Everything else - characters, writing, setting, atmosphere - really is perfection. This book made me feel all of it, and I did not want it to end.

Tom Lake  was a read/listen combination for me. The audio version is truly something special... Meryl Streep's narration is exquisite. In my twenty-plus years of listening to audiobooks, this is one of the very best. 

One final note:

 I strongly recommend reading the classic play Our Town  by Thornton Wilder prior to Tom Lake, especially if you've not read it before. It figures prominently into the story, so being familiar with the characters and plot will add to your overall understanding and appreciation. The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov has also been suggested as a prerequisite but, for me, it didn't add to my reading experience.

My rating:

Tom Lake will surely be one of my favorite books of 2023.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Brief: Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

 

Banyan Moon 

by Thao Thai

Mariner Books, June 2023

336 pages

Audio edition

Narrated by Cindy Kay, Catherine Ho, Elyse Dinh

Harper Audio, June 2023

12 hours and 24 minutes

Spanning decades and continents, from 1960s Vietnam to the wild swamplands of the Florida coast, Banyan Moon is a stunning and deeply moving story of mothers and daughters, the things we inherit, and the lives we choose to make out of that inheritance.

My thoughts:

This was my third Modern Mrs. Darcy book club selection and, though it wasn't what I expected, was another winner! The debut novel is a family story focusing on three generations of women and their fraught mother-daughter relationships. Those relationships are messy, complicated, and yet life-sustaining. Generational trauma plays a role as Minh, the grandmother/matriarch, lived her early life in Vietnam before immigrating to the US with her young children. 

Banyan Moon  opens as Minh's granddaughter, Ann Tran, attends a party with her longterm boyfriend at the home of his wealthy white parents. Soon the story  shifts to Florida and the Banyan House, where Ann spent her childhood with her mother, Huong, and grandmother. Chapters alternate between Ann, Huong, and Mihn's perspectives.

Thao Thai's writing is beautiful and the book pulled me in right away... it kept me turning the pages, too.  I was expecting historical fiction and thought I'd learn more about life in Vietnam. While there is enough historical detail for the reader to understand the older generations, I would definitely classify the novel as a family drama rather than historical fiction.  

Shortly after I began reading, my audiobook hold arrived and it became a read/listen combination. The audio version was excellent! I love multi-narrator productions and this one certainly enhanced my overall reading experience.

MMD hosts a virtual author talk for each selection. It's always interesting to hear the author speak, but yesterday's chat with Thao Thai was especially memorable. It added to my understanding and appreciation of Banyan Moon. I'm already looking forward to her next novel.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

  

One Last March Sunday Salon

Hello, friends. It's been another busy week here with several appointments and a couple of construction developments. On the plus side, we finally have an installation date for the new garage door (our old one collapsed due to storm surge) and the window we've been waiting on for months arrived Friday. No word yet on when that  may be installed. 

Now for the questionable development... Although our wind insurance claim has already been paid, the company is now sending out a structural engineer to inspect the damage. Since overall damage on the island has been so severe, they say it's precautionary. But we have visible interior cracks and I'm a little concerned...

Finally, another milestone was announced Friday. Six months after Hurricane Ian, mail delivery will resume on Monday. This is a huge step forward!!  Fingers crossed all goes smoothly tomorrow.

Recent reading//

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

I finished this book, a read listen combination, the other night and, after loving The Great Believers, my feelings here are complicated. Yes, I enjoyed I Have Some Questions for You, but have a lot more to say. Look for a review later in the week.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

audio edition narrated by the author

I cannot believe it has taken me so long to read this book! Maya Angelou's classic first autobiography, covering her early childhood and teen years, is every bit as wonderful and moving as you have heard - and maybe even more so if you choose to listen to the author read her own words. Thank you, Laurie, for your well-timed reminder. This was a perfect choice for Women's History Month. I highly recommend I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings  and have added Angelou's other works, beginning with Autobiography #2 Gather Together in My Name, to my reading list.

 

Current reading//

 

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

I picked this up yesterday, read the first two or three chapters, and love it already! At nearly 550 pages, it's another chunkster. The audio has received rave reviews, so I'll likely use an audible credit and make this a read/listen combination.

How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals

by Sy Montgomery, narrated by the author

Last year I read Montgomery's The Soul of an Octopus, and only discovered this title while browsing hoopla. The audio version is short (under 4 hours) and so far, it is excellent!

In the kitchen//

These Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps from skinnytaste made for a quick and tasty low-carb dinner. My husband wasn't thrilled with idea of a lettuce wraps so I made rice for him. This will make a repeat appearance in our dinner rotation sometime soon.

We has steak on the grill midweek (yum!) and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to make Katie Workman's (The Mom 100) Polenta with Sautéed Mushrooms, a recipe I saved ages ago. Although it looks fancy, it was fairly easy. The recipe sounded like it might be a little bland, so I added thyme to the mushrooms. It still could have used a bit more flavor, so maybe next time I'll cook the mushrooms in sherry or marsala...

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.

The Sunday Salon: February 26, 2023

 

Hello, friends. It's been a couple of weeks since my last update and, overall, the island is still slowly recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Ian. A couple more businesses have opened, FEMA debris haulers are everywhere, and there seems to be an uptick in building demolitions. 

This past week my sister and BIL were over on the east coast, so we decided to take a break from the destruction and drive across Alligator Alley to join them. A couple nights at a hotel on the beach with warm weather, cool breezes, and lush vegetation was just what we needed! The photo above is an east coast sunrise.

Recent reading//

Becoming Duchess Goldblatt: A Memoir

by Anonymous

narrated by Gabra Zackman, Lyle Lovett, J. Smith-Cameron

Part memoir and part joyful romp through the fields of imagination, the story behind a beloved pseudonymous Twitter account reveals how a writer deep in grief rebuilt a life worth living.

Do you follow Duchess Goldblatt on twitter? This is a lovely memoir, but one which would have been even more enjoyable if I'd been a DG follower from the very beginning. In case you're unfamiliar with her, this New York Times article will bring you up to speed. I listened to this one and Lyle Lovett narrating his own texts, letters, and conversation was an added bonus.

A Brother's Blood by Michael C. White

In the final days of World War II, Dieter Kallick, one of 200 German prisoners of war pressed into service at a Maine logging village, escaped into the woods. His body would later be found washed up on the shore of Moosehead Lake. Decades later, Wolfgang Kallick arrives in this same rural town, hoping to unravel the mystery of his brother's death. His questions trigger disturbing, long-dormant memories in Libby, a flinty Yankee store owner, and she is drawn inexorably into the drama when she realizes that her own family is involved in the case. Then Libby's own brother is killed. Suspecting that the two deaths, though nearly a half-century apart, are somehow linked, she undertakes her own investigation, not realizing that behind the sullen silence of her close-knit town lies a festering secret darker than she ever imagined.

This WWII historical fiction with a mystery is not my typical fare, but I decided to pick it up after meeting the author and his wife. We all had an enjoyable dinner and, naturally, talked a lot about books. At one point, the conversation turned to WWII POW camps in Maine... something I'd only learned about through reading  Oh, William! by Elizabeth Strout. Turns out a Maine POW camp figures prominently in Micheal's first novel (published in 1996) so I decided to give it a try.

I've spent time in that part of Maine, so particularly enjoyed the setting. I also appreciated gradually coming to understand the characters and their motivations, the building suspense, and finally, the unexpected resolution. 

Current reading//

Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

This author's books are often mentioned during Nonfiction November, and last night I discovered this ebook on my library's website. Just 15% in, but I can already see why so many bloggers love her work.

All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me

by Patrick Bringly, narrated by the author

A fascinating, revelatory portrait of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its treasures by a former New Yorker staffer who spent a decade as a museum guard.

I love the Met and just used an audible credit for this new release. Not sure whether I'll get started now or wait until my library hold of the print edition is available...

The week ahead//

We don't have any big plans this week, just a couple of meetings and appointments. Maybe that means I'll be able to finish another book before the end of the month... fingers crossed!

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.